Heart Stronger

To say the emotions run high in this story from Rachel Blaufeld is an understatement. My heart was shattered, then it was mended in this story. I could only imagine the pain of loss that Claire felt through the tragedy that gripped her. No, not mentioning it as I do not want to give a spoiler. The biggest thing is how does one rebuild after something so heartbreaking and earth shattering? Well, enter Aiken. I think he was the most unexpected experience that Claire could have anticipated but in such a good way. He brought life back into Claire and helped her face her fears and move on to live life again.
Overall, this was an amazing story. I think it is my favorite one to date from Blaufeld. What I love about Blaufeld is she tackles such hard and emotional topics with grace and poise and it packs such a punch that leaves you breathless and remembering it for the rest of your life. Heart Stronger will do just that for you and more. With every emotional moment, passionate kiss and more, this will make you look at life in a new way and live it to the fullest. The twist at the end had my heart stop and gasp! But it comes full circle and it just amazing! I highly recommend this read!

4 out of 5 stars

I really enjoy this author’s work. She creates characters that are easy to fall for and a story that you can’t put down once you pick it up. This book is no exception to that rule.

Claire has faced tragedy that no parent wants to even think about. Aiken is looking for answers from deep in his past. They are new neighbors and though Claire fights her attraction to Aiken, she can’t resist his charms for long.

The story moved at a great pace. I never felt like it was going too fast or too slow. I was a little surprised by the big reveal, but not totally. I wish I could re-read it again already to really look for the little clues and try to see what was really happening in the background. Both Aiken and Claire found their way deep into my soul and I am so glad I got the chance to read their story. I can’t imagine anyone being disappointed they took a chance on this book.



*** I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion ***

This is the first book that I have read by Rachel Blaufeld and I have to say that it blew me away. I picked the book up this morning and started to read it and I just could not put it down. Honestly this book made me feel so many emotions. You have Aiken who has come to town because he wants to find out what happened with his mom. Then there is Claire whose daughter was killed in an explosion 3 years ago and she has yet to start living again. Claire and Aiken meet because he bought the house beside her. When they meet the chemistry is electric. Aiken cannot get Claire out of his head so he pursues her and will not take no for an answer. This book is about 2 people that are soul mates. It is about struggling to let go of the past and learning to live in the future. It is about learning that sometimes 2 hearts are stronger together then apart. During the story of Claire and Aiken you have mystery, intrigue. and so much more. I would highly recommend this book. I plan to go back and read everything this author has written. Thanks Net Galley.I voluntarily reviewed this book in exchange for an honest review.

3 stars
Super emotional read about loss and finding love again after letting people in. The rushed ending I wished was a little different.

I love this book more than I could ever say! It is no secret that this author is among my favorites. But this new stand alone took me through more emotions than I expected. Claire has been through so much, the worst of things and yet somehow she puts one foot in front of the other and concentrated on her college students. Until her new neighbor moves in. Aiken is younger than her and very good looking. He also has a way of drawing her out against her wishes. Or does she really want someone to help her live again? But when some details start to come together in what was behind her daughter’s tragedy, is there a way for Claire and Aiken to make it?

You are introduced to the heroine at the very beginning of the story when tragedy strikes. For any parent it is the worst no matter the age, for me I almost stopped reading, but went ahead. It turns out that Claire Richards is still having a time with her life moving forward. All she wants to do is get back to her job as a professor at the local college. She becomes upset at first when her dog takes a liking to the new neighbor who just moved in next door. Though he is very good looking she feels that because she is six years older and still grieving after three years she does not deserve anything good in her life. Mainly because as any mother or parent she wanted one night, not even a night a few hours alone to soak in a tub and read her book. Now she feels she needs to punish herself because of the decision. Aiken the neighbor and her friend since childhood are working to pull her out of her house and back into a life that they feel it is time for her to have. A wonderful story with good characters and a good epilogue.

Heart Stronger is bit of a tear jerker, so have those tissues handy. I simply love this book. So heartfelt. Claire is living the only way she can after the tragedy that took her daughter Abby away. She is a shell of a woman she used to be but that is so understandable. How can you move on when your child is taken away from you too soon? You bury yourself in work and live like a hermit. That is until a hot and a little younger neighbor moves in. Aiken is what Claire needs. He may be a few years younger but he is an old soul. He knows what he wants and he sees that in Claire. Watching him break down her walls and help her heal is so beautiful. I love how he makes new memories with Claire and even includes Abby in them. There a few of twists you wont see coming with this one and you just hold her breathe for Claire once it all comes to light. I love Heart Stronger. It is so beautiful seeing Claire and Aiken come together. A must read.

Beautiful heartbreaking story about a woman who hits rock bottom and her slow rise up.

Claire has lost just about everything, including her mind. A few years ago her daughter was killed and her husband left her for another woman. She teaches, comes home, and starts her day all over again. Her best friend Mary, convinces her to lighten up just a little.

She meets her new next door neighbor, Aiken, who's pretty soft on the eyes. He makes no secret of his interest in her-but he has a few secrets he hasn't revealed.

Slowly Claire lets Aiken into her life, but then when those secrets are exposed, where will that leave them?

"Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review."

Loved this book very much. It had just enough comedy & sweet romance and the storyline was great! I highly recommend!

This was my first book by this author but I'd heard good things about her books but also heard that they tended to be emotional/angsty. While it *was* emotional, it wasn't nearly as angsty as I thought it would be based on the blurb so if angsty isn't your thing, don't let that turn you off. It was an interesting plot with the two "mysteries" that were involved, but it got a bit "cloak and daggery" towards the end and it felt a bit abrupt.

Although the age difference between Claire and Aiken was a central theme (almost to the point of being overdone, if I’m being honest), I never got exactly how old Claire was to Aiken's 30. Not that it really mattered to me, but if it was 10 years vs. 5, it might have helped explain why Claire was so freaked out about it for so much of the book.

Claire's friendship with her lifelong friend Mary was fairly central to the story but I'm not sure I really ever warmed up to her, although she did seem to have Claire's best interest in mind - despite her actions at the end of the book (which never really got resolved although it did seem like she might be getting her own book based on the ending).

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Claire Richards has suffered a devasting loss and her new neighbor, Aiken Fordham, is there to help her start to live again. This is a beautiful, emotional read. I loved it and read it in one sitting! 5+ Stars!

**ARC kindly provided by Netgalley **

An emotional story full of heartbreak, grief, second chances and growth, this story will suck you in and hold you captive until the end. I enjoyed the highs and lows of the story and the chemistry and emotion between the main characters.

Unique perspective on new beginnings.
Well written with some unexpected twists!
Claire is struggling to regain her footing after some situations in her life.
When she meets her new next door neighbor Aiken sparks fly.
Their chemistry was passionate and gut wrenching. Despite the sparks, their journey was full of emotional twists and turns. The writing was excellent as the story unfolded slowly giving us insight into who these people were individually and what it meant for them to be together.

This book was brutal! Fabulously written, a story of great growth and redemption, but dang....the tears! Have a couple boxes of Kleenex ready before you embark on this journey!

Heart Stronger is the first by that I have ever read by Rachel Blaufeld. I really enjoyed this book. I was literally sucked in by Claire and Aiken. They both have endured a lot of pain and loss in their past. Aiken has suffered loss because his mom left him and his dad when he was four. Claire was a divorced mom and lost her only child Abby, when she was only fourteen. Aiken has his dad and family farm back home Indiana.

Aiken and Claire meet when he moves in next door to her. Aiken moves to Town Centre, Pennsylvania to hopefully find answers about his mom. His moms parents where from Town Centre. Aiken is immediately taken with Claire. Claire is 36 years old and is still struggling with Abby’s death. Aiken also looks very young even though he is 30. Aiken and Claire run into each other a lot, seeing as how they are neighbors. The more Aiken is around Claire he knows she is barely living and he makes it his primary focus to bring her back to the land of living.

This is a very sweet book with some suspense. I really enjoyed it. This book is written with dual POV, romance and some sexy scenes. I loved Aiken and how much he loved and faught for Claire and their future.

I received a free copy for an honest review.

An emotional read. A story about accepting what has happened in the past and moving forwards with your life.
Twist towards the end - part of which I suspected.

This was a really emotional read and I loved every last page of it. As a mother, this book just broke my heart at times and I don't know how people manage to carry on after such a loss. Aiken and Claire were just wonderful characters and I really enjoyed getting to know them he was just what she needed and was there at the right time this is a wonderful read I loved it.

Rounding up from 3.5 stars. This book includes a truly beautiful romance story. Claire is struggling to move past the losses she has endured but Aiken is just the man to help her start to move forward. Aiken is supportive and patient and almost too perfect for most of the book. If the story had just been focused on these two characters building a relationship and a future together then I probably would have given it 5 stars. But Aiden is also searching for his long lost mother and the parts of the plot dealing with that and connecting it back to the relationship between Aiken and Claire didn't exactly work for me. It's not that I had a problem with what was revealed, it was more about the way it unfolded and that didn't work for me. I still really enjoyed a good portion of this book and I recommend it based on the beautiful romance.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Heart Stronger is a really emotional read that had sone react ugly crying moments throughout this story. I really liked the characters in this story and i liked the storyline of this story as well.

Heart Stronger is bit of a tear jerker, so have those tissues handy. I simply love this book. So heartfelt.